Square One Law advises on expanding UK electric vehicle infrastructure

The energy team at Square One Law has advised Zero Carbon Futures on a project that sees Nissan UK, Ecotricity and Gateshead College form a partnership to support the growing UK movement towards electric vehicles.

This North East founded project will lead to the creation of a network of rapid chargers located across the UK’s motorway network. These charge points will allow electric vehicle users to “refuel” from 0-80% battery power in just 30 minutes.

As a result of this project 26 new charge points have already been installed at Welcome Break and Roadchef service stations and IKEA stores across the country and there are plans to install many further points at the majority of Welcome Break, Roadchef and MOTO sites by April 2014.

Jim Wright, managing director of Nissan GB, said: “Nissan is working hard to ensure that 100% electric driving becomes accessible for all UK motorists and the installation of a rapid charging network on the motorway opens up EV ownership to thousands more motorists.

“The UK’s charging landscape is improving daily, and we are very proud to be the main power source driving the development of infrastructure that will ultimately provide further flexibility and peace of mind to our LEAF drivers.”

Ecotricity founder, Dale Vince expanded: “The main barrier in people’s mind to the take up of electric cars is their travel range and charging times.

“Really these issues are one and the same. Concern over the distance that an electric car will travel on a single charge, called range anxiety, can be overcome if you have the right charging infrastructure in the right locations – to quickly recharge.”

Head of Square One Law’s energy team, James Bryce added: “This is a growth area and it is exciting to be at the forefront of developing the legal arrangements to support the expanding EV infrastructure. Our energy team has lawyers experienced in a number of disciplines and we are able to support all parts of the emerging and established energy supply chain.”